Sales demonstrator for rotatable shelves



March 20, 1951 FRlcK 2,545,455

SALES DEMONSTRATOR FOR ROTATABLE SHELVES Filed Marchl4, 1950 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .PhuL .HZFk/c/g moea 24? A TT'OBNE y Patented Mar. 20, 1951 SALES DEMONSTRATOR FOR ROTATABLE SHELVES Paul H. Frick. Wynnewood, Pa., assignor to The Frick Gallagher Manufacturing Company,

Wellston, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,609

'5 Claims.

This invention relates to'demonstrat on devices and is more particularly concerned with the provision of a device which is adapted to demonstrate to prospective customers the savings in floor space which may be effected by the use of sO-called rotary bins or shelves in contrast to the conventional type of rectangular shelves.

The general object of this invention is to provide, in miniature, a model of a typical floor space containin a plurality of rOWS of rectangular shelf units with aisles therebetween and means for readily collapsing the model to demonstrate the saving in, space when rotatable bins or shelf units are substituted for the rectangular units.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for showing the location of rotatable units relative to the rectangular units of the collapsed model.

The device of the present invention is particularly useful for salesmen attempting to interest prospective customers to purchase rotatable bins and in this respect provides a graphic illustrationof the advantages thereof which is much more effective and much more readily understood than complicated mathematical figures intended to accomplish the same result.

Accordingly, a further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which can be readily carried about by a person from place to place and particularly by itinerant salemen.

A still further object is the provision of a device of the type mentioned which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and not likely to become damaged under conditions of repeated ,handling.

These and other objects and advantages of the and with shields disposed on said member to I indicate the positions of the rotary bins;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment in the collapsed position;

Figure, 6 is an isometric view of one of the shields included in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring with 'more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment illustrated comprises a rectangular frame ll, having side strips l2, l2 and end strips l3, l3 which define a given storage area. To the bottom of the frame there is secured a base member l4. Each side strip I2 of members in parallel spaced relation represent ing to scale units of rectangulartype shelves and the aisles therebetween. The end members.

I! and I8 represent single row units while the intermediate members l9 representdouble row units. Each of the members ll, 58 and !9 are secured to a glider disposed on top of the base [4 and extending oneither side into the recesses l5 of the side strips. Some of the gliders, such as the gliders 28, have a Width equal to the width of their self units l9. At intervals some of the gliders, such as the gliders 2!, are wider than their corresponding shelf members to represent aisle space not eliminatable. In other words, substitution of the rotary shelf units permit elimination of some of the aisles, but not all. Accordingly, the wide gliders are provided at the points where the aisles cannot be eliminated. The location of these Wider glide members depends upon the particular demonstration desired, that is to say, whether the demonstration will provide for single or double rows of rotary shelves or combinations thereof. The embodiment illustrated is for a combination of two single rows of rotary bins and two double rows of rotary bins, the single row being equivalent in capacity to the single rows of rectangular shelves and the double rows being equivalent in capacity to six single rows or three double rows of rectangular shelves.

The sides of the members ll, l8 and I9 are preferably delineated to pictorially represent the rectangular shelves. (See Figure 3.)

The members ll, I8 and [9 are maintained in proper relation to each other in their extended positions as illustrated in Figure 1 by means of flexible connectors 22 and 23 on either side, which are attached to the corresponding outer ends of said members by any suitable means, such as pins 24. At one end of the device, say the end where the member 3 is disposed, the flexible members 22 and 23 are anchored to the frame I l by means of tacks, or screws 25 or any other suitable means.

The elements l1, I8 and i9 are thus maintained in proper spaced relation when extended Without interfering with the collapsing thereof.

To demonstrate the saving of space which obtains from the substitution of rotary units, the members l'l, l8 and. Marc collapsed b moving the free member I9 at one end toward the opposite member i'i. The collapsed position of the members is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 which shows four separate collapsed. groups. consisting of tWo single row groups at the ends and, inter--- mediately two double row groups. Shields in the form of inverted channels fifiare placediover each of the collapsed groups. Each of said shieldshas a Width corresponding to the group'on which it is to be placed and carries on-the surface thereof delineations or illustrations of rotary shelf units which are substitutable for the collapsed group: These shields also prevent the expansion of the model during this. part of: the demonstration;

I claim:

1. A- sales demonstrator for rotatable I shelves comprising a frame defining a model of-astorage area, a pluralityof spaced members within the frame area, said members representing rows'of rectangular shelving units, means for slidably supporting"said members insaid area, means for maintainingnot less than a fixed spaced relation between some of said members and: afiexible connector. secured at. intervals to. said members.

2. A-sales-demonstrator for. rotatable shelves comprising a frame defininga modeliofazstorage area, a plurality of spaced members within the frame area, said members representing rows of rectangular shelving units, means for slidably supporting'said members in said area, means for maintaining not less-than a fixed space relation between someof saidmembersa flexible connector secured at intervals to said members and means for attaching: one endof said: connector to said frame;

3. A sales demonstratorfor rotatable shelves comprising a frame defining'a model of. a storagearea, a plurality of'spa'ced members within the: frame area, said members representingrrowsof .of. the membersand shields adapted to be removably disposed about said groups, said shields representing the relative space occupied by rotatable shelvesof comparable capacity.

4'. A- sales demonstrator for rotatable shelves comprising a frame defining a model of a storage area aaplurality of: spaced members representing rows of rectangular shelving units, strips secured to saidunits for slidabl supporting said members in said area, said frame having longitudinal recesseszfor receivingtheends of saidfstrip's", some ofzsaid strip being wider than their'corresponding memberss to= represent non-eliininatable aisle spaceanda flexible cornector secured at inter-r vals to said members and to said frame.

5. A sales demonstrator for rotatable; shelves comprising aframedefi'ning a-modellof a storage area, a; plurality of spaced members representing rows of-rectangular shelving units, strips secured to said units for slidabl'y supporting said. members insaid area, said frame: having longitudinal recesses for receiving t'hexzends.of:"said';strips;. some of saidstripsbeing Wider'thantheir correspond ing members to represent noneelimin'atabl'e aisle space, a flexible connector secured at intervals to said members and to said;frame, wherebysaid members may be-collapsedlsotas to eliminate the space-bet-Ween'somerof themand thereby provider a plurality of groups of the members, and shields.

adapted tobe-removably disposed about said capacity.

PAUL -I-I. .FRICK;

No referencescited. 

